Clondalkin still waiting for the boom

Despite its inclusion as a disadvantaged community in the RAPID programme, North Clondalkin in Dublin has yet to see the benefits of Ireland's economic success. By Rory Hearne

Armed robberies, drive-by shootings and drug feuds are the essence of the national media's portrayal of Clondalkin. Rarely mentioned is the vibrant local community, working tirelessly to overcome years of deprivation, state neglect and poor planning.

The economic boom hasn't lifted many boats in North Clondalkin, says community representative Phyllis Forte. "There is a big anchor here," she says. "If the Celtic Tiger has visited the area, he didn't stay long enough to be seen."

Phyllis, a representative on the local RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) team, deals with local people's concerns on a daily basis. Just last week, she spoke to a widowed pensioner, who had discovered a lump on her neck in January and required a scan. However, as a medical cardholder it would be August before she would be seen. Her family just about managed to scrape the cash together for a semi-private scan in February in Tallaght hospital.

"The health service for young and old in North Clondalkin is non-existent in comparison to what needs to be available," Phyllis says.

"Two girls, 17 and 18, doing their leaving cert, came to me in a panic they were pregnant," explains Phyllis. "You can get the morning after pill and medical advice if you have the money. They didn't want a baby but both had had problems getting the money together for the necessary medical care. The girls said 'birth control is expensive if you have no money.'"

There are no chiropodists, opticians, health education, dieticians or recreation facilities, particularly for elderly people. Other difficulties include access to GPs and the cost of transport and treatment at hospitals.

North Clondalkin, with a population of 22,000, was developed as a satellite town in the 1970s and 1980s by Dublin Corporation to address inner city overcrowding. Poverty was relocated and then compounded by insufficient facilities. High levels of deprivation in the area meant its inclusion in RAPID in 2001.

Unemployment has decreased significantly. In the area of Rowlagh it went from 29.5 per cent in 1996 to 8.3 per cent in 2002 (the national figure is 3.2 per cent). However, male unemployment is 14 per cent. The area has a high percentage of lone parents – a sector of society particularly vulnerable to poverty. In the Cappaghmore area 26 per cent are lone parents; in Rowlagh it's 28.2 per cent, compared to 11.9 per cent nationally.

"RAPID was sold to us in 2001 as a way of bringing more money into the area but nothing much happened in the first two or three years," says Andy Lane, who works in the North Clondalkin Community Development Programme. "Eamon O Cuiv TD then started to raise RAPID's profile and get some resources into the programme".

The RAPID Programme funded the refurbishment of the Health Centre in Rowlagh, educational programmes and impressive landscape improvements. These shouldn't have had to be fought for says Andy.

There are still burnt out cars dotted around the green open spaces and burnt remains of piles of rubbish resulting from the bin tax and anti-social behaviour. The absence of affordable childcare, particularly during the school holiday, contributes to anti-social behaviour and poverty. The lack of proper leisure facilities such as a permanent boxing club hasn't helped. The Neilstown boxing club operates out of a local school. Despite submitting funding applications for the past five years and promises of a new club any progress is painfully slow and frustrating.

Community workers are angry that the Department of Education hasn't granted the School Completion Programme greater funding despite the RAPID status of the area.

"Unless money is put in at an early school level, nothing will change," says Phyllis.

In Rowlagh, 37 per cent of the population have either only primary education or no formal education, compared to the national average of 22 per cent. Attendance at third level in Rowlagh is 6.8 per cent, in the Moorfield area 8.9 per cent, while nationally it is 26 per cent.

Educational disadvantage is influenced by a child's environment, including housing overcrowding, employment, family issues, drugs and poverty. RAPID hasn't addressed these structural issues.

Children of young families initially housed in the area are now adults with their own children, the lack of social and affordable housing has resulted in a serious overcrowding problem in North Clondalkin. Under Part 5 of the Planning Act 2000, 40,000 affordable homes should have been delivered to date, but only 2,000 have been provided. In the past decade social housing units have increased by a mere 2,300, while there are at least 140,000 people on the social housing waiting list. Most local facilities were hard fought for by the community. In 2004, for example, government cuts to the Community Employment scheme were successfully stopped by a campaign led by the local Community Development Programme involving weekly demonstrations outside the Tánaiste's local office.

A campaign is underway for a long-promised library/multiplex. €1.25 million was designated in 2003 by the Department of Education towards the estimated cost of €5 million, but nothing has been done since.

Other services campaigned for are greater support for the elderly, public transport, facilities for local children (an equestrian centre, a playground and a skateboarding park), apprenticeship schemes and skills training in schools, and an increase in welfare payments.

According to Phyllis, "four years of hard work has been done to identify the projects that would address the source of deprivation but, unless the state makes the commitment to resource these projects, North Clondalkin RAPID area will continue to be dependent on the welfare system and be socially deprived of education, gainful employment and basic social needs. A visit from the Celtic Tiger to North Clondalkin would be most welcome – I'm sure he would welcome a rest from the more affluent."